The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-10-01
Some Timely Suggestions From a
Competent ExSoaader.


Mr.. EDITOR: Now that we are q
village with a President and Board Of
Trustees having authority to act for
the Village III most matters of public
Importance, the common query is
what VIII they do for the common
good, ! cannot answer Tor them, but
can say what | would do if | had their
authority, and what ! would not do.
For one thing | would not grant
franchise of any kind to any private
corporation. And for another, |
would compel The holders of property
for future values to pay their proper
ton OF the cost OF the public improve
ments which will most contribute to
bring their 70 property the values for
which they are waiting
have no disposition to discriminate
against NONRESIDENT owners but claim
it is only far that they should bear
equally with resident tax payers the
burdens of making the improvements
which are necessary to the building up
OF Superior In some respects the
large owners Of property in Superior
haye been very liberal. They haye
/ frequently given freely cf their pro
/ perty 10 promote the growth Of the
town. But many Of them entertain
such "A strong belief in the early real
/ ization of their hopes for the town that
they hold their property far above the
| present actual value Some few who
/ know they cjnnot sell at their prices.
answer inquiries with "A statement that
/ they will not sell at present. One
gentleman who holds scattered proper
/ tv which is altogether worth not more
, than $500, writes that he will not
sell until bis property will bring 500
/ 900 None Of these large nonresident
owners have any intention Of using or
/ improving their property. Nv pro
/ position is that they be made to con
/ tribute literally for public works
which will make their property worth
what they want for tor, failing that,
make it to their interest 10 sell out.
Our first public need is an adequate
supply Of water. The need is pecul-
iariy pressing Al the west end, but will
soon become general. This is matter
Of public Importance "a public neces-
si!y which it IS the duty Of the Village
authorities 10 proYide for. Otherwise
tie Village Incorporation would have
no right or authority to delegate or
4 grant to private person or corpora
ton the night to supply water. The
providing OF water works, increasing
/ The security OF buildings and making
the town habltable III all quarters,
would evidently increase the value Of
/ Village lots and make them more
Sa!abie. Why should the supplying
OF water be delegated to private cor
/ poratlon? The Village Is abundantly
able to provide water works and there
are many reasons why it should Goa
troll the supply and regulate the use.
L IS desirable, for instance, that there
should be an abundant supply, that
the water should be the best obtain
able ana tdat It should be introduced
into every house. i private corpor-
alton ever did fully supply any town,
and cities which hare been compelled
to secure good water service-to
buy out the water companies they had
permitted to take charge of their
water supply, have been DELAYED many
years in obtaining such general,ase of
tie water as public health demanded.
Some cities through succeed
ing to the erro.s and bail policies
Of the pTiyaae corporations, have never
been aDie TO make the water supply
cheap enough 50 tLa5 the poor could
aIOru 10 nave Its UGHeitS. Oar \ IL